My YouthWorks Summer: Week 4

This is the fifth of ten blogging installments from my life-changing summer in Milwaukee. In this recap I review my fourth week of programming. Be sure to check out my postscript thoughts at the end! A logical place for such thoughts.

If you’ve missed any of previous recaps, flash back to Week 0. Also, check out what a camera crew produced when they visited our site during Week 9.

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Yet another week complete. This week we filled out midsummer evaluations on ourselves which helps emphasize the fact that we are indeed halfway through this summer. Such a crazy thought. On the one hand training in Minneapolis seems like years ago; on the other, these last six weeks have flown. I’m sure the next five and a half will feel just the same.

This week was unique in that only a single church group joined us for programming, rather than three or four. Right off the bat there was an intense surge of energy from this single Iowan church of 72. Throughout the week I was truly inspired by all these young people — specifically, their unity among each other and their passion for Christ. Looking back to when I was their age, I wish I possessed half the amazing qualities they do.

I’ll point out a single example:

Thursdays are Grill Days with YouthWorks, and as Master Burger Flipper it’s my job to flip about 80 burgers in the lonely alleyway behind our church. As I finished flipping the last of the burgers, dinner had already started and everyone else was eating. As I finished grilling those last burgers in solitude, one particular boy who I’d connected with throughout the week joined me outside with his plate of food. And he sat down on a cooler and started talking to me. Kept me company till I was done.

So touching.

Every Thursday night we have foot-washing services where we YouthWorks staff members wash the feet of the church groups’ adult leaders, who then wash the feet of their students. Amazing music plays in the background throughout the washings and it’s just super emotional. I cried when we staff members experienced it ourselves during training and I still tear up when I watch the powerfulness unfold before me.

After this week’s foot-washing, the staff and I went upstairs and had our own private little worship session. Just the four of us. It was truly a heavenesque experience. I’m growing to love these people more and more with every passing programming week, and it’s saddening that I’ll actually be separating from them in just under six weeks. Trying to make the most of every moment.

Speaking of moments. Ministry Moment of the Week: chatting with an elderly woman at a nursing home and helping her with an LA Times crossword (though not having much success with the latter portion of that combo). Every time I enter the nursing home I get a little tense because I wonder if I can actually carry a meaningful conversation with an older person I’ve never met before and may never meet again.

And yet every time it’s not that hard; I introduce myself, and away we go. I don’t even remember what exactly she and I talked about, but I do remember the smile on her face as we talked and it makes me realize that simple conversation with a lonely person — with any person — can go a long way.

To close the week I enjoyed some precious Me Time at Lake Michigan. Enjoy the pictures; I love this place.

To be continued…

TMZ PS: I still fondly recall that moment when the boy joined me outside. Just a special kid, and I miss him, along with so many from this summer. Going into the summer, there’s no way I could have predicted how much the students would mean to me. How much they’d impact and change me, show me love when it was supposed to be “my job” to do that for them.

That post-footwashing staff worship session is also an experience I’ll never forget and one I can’t even begin to translate into words, spoken or written. A great group of kids and a great staff to work and worship with. As always.

A truly awesome week.